Filament-drying apparatus



Jan. 5 ,1926. 6 1,568,686

' s. A. NEIDICH FILAMENT DRYING APPARATUS Filed July 29 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Flfil ll Z8 Z6 Z 75 Ji 95 5 2a llVVf/V 70R- V JAMuEL A. A f/016i],

' Jan. 5 1926. 1,568,686

5. A. NEIDICH FILAMENT DRYING APPARATUS Filed July 29, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

FIG H Jan. 5 1926. 1,568,686

5. A. NEIDICH FILAMENT DRYING APPARATUS File y 29, 1925 s Sheets-She et s M'VLWTOR:

Jam/a AWE/01cm Patented Jan. 5; 1926.

. 1,568,686 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL A. NEIDICH. OF EDGEWATER P ARK, NEW JERSEY.

FILAMENT-DRVYING Amalia-rue.

Application filed July 28, 1925. Serial No. 46,822.

To all whom at may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL A. NEIDICH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgewater Park, in the county of Burlington-and State of New Jersey, have in- .vented a certain new and useful. Improvecellulose hydrate complex by progressively extruding a stream of such viscose into a heated atmosphere orinto an aqueous solution containing a suitable acid, for instance, sulphuric or hydrochloric acid, or containing an acid salt such as sodium bi-sulphite or ammonium chloride either with or withv out neutral salts ordehydrators, or both;

formly lustrous appearance.

light therefrom, whereas; the commercial value of such filament is largely dependent upon its uniformity of cross section and uni- Consequently when it is desired to form such filaments of uniform cross section freev from indentation, it is undesirable to wind them in the usual waydirectly upon the surface of bobbins or other similar holders, because if.

wound on such containers thestresses from the shrinkage in dryingv invariably produces detrimental marks on the under layers.

Therefore, it is the object and effect of my invention to provide a method and means for efiiciently drying such filaments between the time of their emergencefrom the coagulatin medium and the time when they are wou-n upon bobbins; to associate, with such drying means, means for immediately removing the dry filament therefrom to bobbins; and to provide means to automatically stop the operation of the drying apparatus if and when the filament breaks in passing to or from it. v

- An essential feature of my invention is thatthe filament is subjected to the drying operation in successive disconnected pieces each of which is wound upon a large open reel, which is of such extent. for instance, five thousand yards, that tlie initial end of the filament is dried before the final end thereof is thus wound, so that the operation of unwinding each such. piece may be begun as soon as the winding' operation is completed and, thereafter, the operation of winding the succeeding wet filament upon the same reel may proceed simultaneously with the unwinding of the preceding dried filament. "Consequently, the operation of windingthe filament on and off said reel, and rewinding it upon bobbins is practically continuous, under normal conditions; being only momentarily interru ted while a filled bobbin is being removed and replaced by an empty one, and if when the filament breaks; the latter. interruption being only long enough to permit the operator to connect the brokenends of the filament.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings: Fig. I is a diagrammatic end view of apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. II is a diagrammatic side elevation of such apparatus.- L

Fig. III is a plan view of the wet filament guide with its stop mechanism.

Fig. IV is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. III.

Fig. V is a side elevation of the bobbin appurtenant electric winding device which is'diagrammatically I indicated in ,Figs. I and II, but on a larger scale than in those figures. 1

Fig. VI is a side elevation of the dry filament guiding device of the electric stop mechanism. 4

Fig. VII is an end elevation of the electric stop motion switch.

. Fig. VIII is a diagrammatic end elevaton of the electric tripping mechanism, whereby said electric switch is operated, as a consequence .of the breaking of the filament; to thus stop the operation of the entire apparatus. Y Q

In said figures; the reel 1 comprises opthe circumferential series shaft 3 of the open reel thus formed is so vided with the clutc when in the position .of the parts shown in posite end wheel frames 2 rigidly mounted upon the shaft 3 and rigidl connected by slats 5. Said journaled as to be freely rotated, by the electric motor 7 which has the pulley 8 driving the belt 9 extending around the distal end wheel frame 2, as indicated in Fig. I. As indicated in Fig. V; said belt 9 also extends around the pulley 11 of the bobbin winding device which is best shown in Fig. V. Said pulley 11 is rigidly connected with the hollow shaft 12 which is 'journaled in the bearing standards 14 and 15 and is prevented from axial movement by the abutment of the hub of said pulley 11 against the bearing 14, and the abutment of the collar 16 against said bearing 15; said collar 16 being rigidly connected with said hollow shaft 12. i

The solid spindle 18 is mounted within said hollow shaft 12, in coaxial relation therewith, and is movable lon 'tudinally in said shaft 12, but is normally held in the position shown in Fig. V, by the spring 19, which encircles said spindle 18; and is compressed between said. bearing 15 and the collar 20, which latter is fixed on said spindle 18. Endwise movement of said spindle 18, under pressure of said spring 19, is limited by the clutch collar 22, which is rigidly connected with said s indle 18, and is promember 23, which,

Fig. V, bears upon and enga es the right hand end of said hollow sh-a t 12, so that said s indle 18 then rotates with said shaft 12. aid rota spindle 18 has the bow spring 25, -righ d ly connected therewith at one end, to frictionally engage the bobbin spool 26' when the latter is manually thrust upon the right 'hand end of said spindle 18 as indicated in Fig. V. x

I The filament 28 is" delivered to, so as to be. wound upon, .said spoon26 b :wa of the guiding device shown in Fig. V Said filament extendsover the glass sleeve 29 carried by the trip lever 30 which is fulcrumed at 31 upon the supporting bar 32 and isprovided with the weight 34, conveniently composed of two nuts, adjustably screw threaded upon said lever 30. Said filament 28 tends to slide toward the right on said sleeve 29, but such movement is limited by the vertical stud 35 which is rigidly connected with said bar 32.

Said thread guiding device is rendered adjustable with reference to said bobbin 26 by mountin said fulcrum 31 on a metal plate 37 which is longitudinally adjustable on said bar 32 by means of the. screw 38 having the knob handle 39 by which said screw may be turned in the swivel. bearing 40 on said plate 37, while said screw 38 is in engagement with thenut bracket 41 which is rigidly connected with said bar 32. Said lever 30 is electrically connected with the wire42, which is conveniently at tached to said plate 37; so that said lever 30 is one terminal of an electric circuit, of

when said filament 28 breaks,-it releases said lever 30 and permits the latter to be tilted by its weight 34 until said lever 30 closes said circuit by encounterin the contact bracket 45; with the effect of operating the clutch device 48 to stop the operation of said reel .1 b said motor 7. However, the normal spee of rotation of said reel is so great that it would continue to turn to an undesirable extent unless means be provided to check it. Therefore, I prefer to provide a brake band 49 which is fastened at its realr end to the su port 50, extends thence over the circumference of one of said reel end frames 2 and is connected with the dpedal lever 52, so that the o erator, by epressing said lever 52, may rictionally' engage said brak e band 49 with the reel to stop the rotation of the latter, temgorarily, while reconnecting the broken lament 28 and resetting the arts to the position shown in Fig. VI. 0 course said rake may be usedto stop the reel for any other urpose. Sai clutch device 48 comprises the electromagnet 53'which is rigidly mounted in the casing 54 below the armature 55 which is pivotally connected with said casing at its left hand endand normally upheld in the position shown in Fig. VI by a suitable spring. In that position; saidarmature 55 is engaged by the movable latch 57 which is pivoted at its upper end to said casingand as a suitable notch engaging the ,pin 58, progecting fromthe tripping lever 60 which is ulcrumed at 61 in said casing 54 and normally upturned to the position shown in Fig. VI by the spring 62.

In the normal position of the parts shown in Fig. VI; said tripping lever 60 extends beneath the bar 64 which then engages the pawl 65, shown in Fig. VIII, which is ful crumed at 66 in the switch rotor 67 and upheld by its spring 68 to prevent turning movement of said rotor by the spring 69 of the latter which tends to turn it in the direction of the arrows shown in Figs. VII

VII; said switch rotor 67 is in electrical contact with the terminals 71 and 72 of 'the circuit including the conductors 73 and 74 so as to bri g he g p ween said termiand VIII. In the position shown in Fig.

a the apparatus above described; said reel 1 paratus.

is rotated at high speed to draw the dried filament 28 through the guide 75 on said bar 32. and over said glass sleeve 29 of.

the guiding device and wind the same upon bobbin spools 26 which are successively oper-atively connected with said rotary spindle 18 as above described with referenceto Fig. V. It may be observed that the rotation of the bobbin 26 and spindle 18 may be stopped by the operator thrusting said spindle toward the-right in opposition to its sprin 19, to thus disengage the clutch 23; wh le the hollow shaft 12 continues to rotate. The. operator is thus enabled to remove a bobbin spool 26 filled with filament 28 and replace it,with an empty bobbin spool 26 with the .minimum amount of losttime ofoperation of the ap- Such unwinding of the dried filament 28 from' the reel 1 is begun at the right hand end thereof in Fig. II and proceeds toward the left. When it has proceeded for, say, three inches of the axial extent of the reel, the latter is stopped and the forward end of another wet filament 28 tied thereon at the right hand end of said reel and, thereupon, rotation of the latter is resumed, so that simultaneously with the unwinding of the dried filament, a wet filament is wound upon-said reel. I find it convenient to rotate said reel at approximately fifty revolutions per minute;'so that five thousand yards of filament are wound thereon in about twenty minutes; which time 'is suflicient for the '1n1- tial end of each filament to become dry enough to be wound on bobbins without damage. --Therefore, it is to be understood that the operations above described pro-- ceed practically continuously, being, only interrupted long enough to fasten and unfasten the ends of the successive filaments with respect to the reel 1 and the bobbins 26. a p

Although series of wet filaments 28 may be successively directed upon the reel 1 by any suitable means; I find it convenient to employ the guiding device shown in Figs. .III and IV, which also includes an electric stop mechanism, of the general character.

above contemplated and effective to stop the rotation of the reel 1 if and when a wet filament breaks. 4

Referring to Figs. IIIand IV; the wet filament 28 extends to the reel 1 over the guide plate 76 between the pair of guide bars 77 and over the cross bar 78 which couples the levers 79 and 80, which latter are respectively fulcrumed upon opposite sides of said plate 76 upon the single pivot bolt 81 which extends through the plate 76 and is provided with nuts 82 securing said 1 in adjusted position,) as means for varying the tension upon said 'wetfilament 28.

Said plate 76 is provided with the stop lugs 87 to limit the downward movement of said levers 79 and 80 u der tension of the filament; so that said le rs normally stand in the position shown in full lines in Fig. I I

IV. However, if and when the wet filament 28 breaks, said levers 79 and 80 are released and tilted, by their counterbalance weight aforesaid, to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. IV, wherein the lever '80 encounters the terminal 88 of-the electric conductor 89 which is mounted in the insulating block 90 and included in the stop mechanism circuit aforesaid; of which the other side is established through the conductor 91 and bolt 92'to said plate 76 and levers 78 and 7 9. It is to be understood that such closure of the circuit is effective to operate the tripping mechanism, and stop the rotation of the reel 1 as above described.

In order to automatically feed the wet filament 28 to said reel 1 so that'it is wound in regularly spaced helical convolutions thereon; I find it convenient to connect said guide plate 76 with the split nut 93 which is provided with the handle 94 by which it may be connected and disconnected with respect to the rotary screw shaft 95 which is provided with a thread of such pitch as to shift said guide plate 76 to the desired extent during each revolution of the reel 1. However, said plate 76 may be manually shifted back and forth, by the operator, when said-split nut 93 is released from said screw shaft 95.

to direct the dried filament from the reel at right angles to the latter, as it will run freely through said guide 75 at substantially any angle with reference to the axis of the reel.

Although I have found it convenient to employ an embodiment of mv invention as above described; I do not esire to limit -myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as the es- 1 claims.

I claim:

1. In filament 'drying apparatus; the combination with an open reel;'of-means arranged to rotate said reel; means arranged to direct a wet filament upon said reel, at one end thereof; and means arranged'to withdraw a separate dry' filament from 'said reel; whereby separate filaments may be successively wound upon said reel, and unwound therefrom; such winding and unwinding being intermittently and contemporaneously effected, to spontaneously dry said filament during such winding and unwinding.

2. Drying apparatus, of the character specified in claim 1; wherein the means for directing the wet filament to the reel is operatively connected with means for automatically shifting it, axially with respect to the reel, to direct the filament to the reel in helically spaced convolutions. 7

3. Drying apparatus, of the character specified in claim 1; wherein the means for directing the wet filament to the reel includes an electrical switch normally held open by'the filament but having means to close it when the filament breaks.

4. Drying apparatus, of the character specified in claim 1; wherein the means for directing the dry filament from the reel in cludes an electric switch normally held open by the filament but having means to close it when the filament breaks.

5. Drying apparatus, of the character specified in claim 1; wherein the means for with-drawing the dry filament from said'reel includes a bobbin winding mechanism and means rotating the same in coordinate relation with the rotation of said reel.

6. In filament drying apparatus; the combination with a rotary reel; of means arranged to contemporaneously wind one filament in helical axially spaced convolutions on said reel. and unwind a preceding filament therefrom, including separate guiding means for each of said filaments.

7 In filament drying apparatus; the combination with a rotary wheel; of means arranged to contemporaneously wind one filament in helical axially spaced convolutions on said reel and unwind a preceding filament therefrom, including separate guiding means for each of said filaments, and electric switches in cooperative relation with each of said guiding means, and means arranged to stop the rotation of said reel; whereby said reel is stopped automatically as the consequence of breakage of either of said filaments.

8. In filament drying apparatus, the combination with a rotary reel; of means arranged to helically wind a wet filament on said reel .in axially spaced convolujtions, including a rotary screw shaft, a guide having means to detachably operatively connect it with said screw shaft, and means arranged to rotate said reel and shaft in cooperative relation.

9. Infilament drying apparatus, the combination with a rotary reel; of means arranged to helically wind a wet filament upon said reel; and means arranged to un-v wind the dried filament from said reel, in-

cluding a bobbin turning device comprising a hollow shaft, a spindle arranged to reciprocate within said shaft; clutch means on said. spindle arranged to adjustably engage said shaft; a spring arranged to normally hold said clutch in engagement; and bobbin holding means carried by said spindle.

10. The method of drying an extruded filament; which consists in winding it in helical spaced convolutions upon a rotary reel; maintaining it in relatively stationary position upon said reel until it is dried; and then unwinding said filament from said reel, and contemporaneously winding a wet filament on said reel.

11. The method of drying an extruded filament; which consists in winding it in helicaL spaced convolutions upon a rotary reel; maintaining it in'relatively stationary position uponsaid reel until it is dried; and

then unwinding said filament from said reel.

12. In filament drying apparatus; the combination with a rotary reel; of a rotary screw shaft, parallel with the axis of said reel; a split nut arranged to traverse said shaft; and a filament guide carried by said nut; wherebv said guide is arranged to direct a filament into axially spaced convolutions on said reel, when said nut is engaged with said shaft, and may be rendered idle, and manually shifted independently of said reel.

\ 13. Drying apparatus, of the character 'specified in claim 12, wherein the filament guide includes an electric switch arranged to be operated when the filament breaks.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Burlington, New Jersey, I

this twenty-first day of July, 1925.

SAMUEL NEID C L 

